As the growing season kicks into high gear, many gardeners find themselves in a constant battle against invasive weeds.
Renowned gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh offers his top five strategies to help you keep your garden weed-free and flourishing.
1. Dig them up
One of the most effective ways to remove weeds is to dig them up.
Titchmarsh recommends using a garden hand trowel for smaller weeds like couch grass. For more persistent perennials such as bindweed or nettles, a garden fork is essential.
The key is to dig deep and ensure you remove the entire root system, as even the tiniest remnants can result in new weeds.
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2. Hoe them off
Regular hoeing can keep your garden weed-free.
Hoe over bare soil weekly to cut weed roots and create a dry surface, which inhibits the germination of weed seeds.
Titchmarsh advises choosing a dry day for this task to ensure that weeds dehydrate and die on the surface.
This simple method is particularly effective in preventing weed proliferation.
3. Pull them out
Annual weeds such as groundsel or chickweed should be pulled out before they have a chance to set seed.
Hand weeding is best done after rain when the soil is softer, making it easier to extract the entire root system.
Weeds like herb Robert, which do not root deeply, can be easily removed by hand, making this a quick and efficient method for small-scale weeding.
4. Scrape them out
For weeds growing between paving stones or in tight spaces, Titchmarsh suggests scraping them out with a weeding tool or an old knife.
Dandelions and meadowgrass are common culprits in these areas.
Carefully tease out these weeds, ensuring you remove the roots. If desired, a residual path weedkiller can be applied afterward to prevent future growth.
5. Spray them
In cases of severe weed infestations, especially with perennials, using a systemic weedkiller can be effective.
Titchmarsh advises applying the chemical to dry leaves during midsummer, ensuring no rain is forecast.
For particularly troublesome weeds like bindweed, training the plant up a bamboo cane can help isolate it from other plants before applying the weedkiller.
Always follow the product instructions carefully.
For especially difficult weeds like Japanese knotweed, Titchmarsh cautions that professional help may be necessary due to its resilience and the potential legal implications of its spread.
